By Tarannum Sattar

There has been a huge uproar and tension when the biggest bank theft of about $101 million was stolen from Bangladesh Bank foreign reserves. The nation fell in distress and the news made headlines overseas.
Following the disaster, Bangladesh Bank Governer Atiur Rahman resigned from his position after the tension kept rising. According to A.F.M Asaduzzaman, Atiur Rahman submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Finance Minister AMA Muhith said a bureaucrat is likely to take his place.
However, the resignation of the governer diddn’t seem to cool the heat. Demands for the resignation from the finace Minister himself has been topping the headlines too.
Consequently, amidst the major economic disaster, the Finance Minister gave his piece of mind to a national daily where he termed the whole incident of heist as “very incompetent”. AMA Muhith also said that Governor Atiur Rahman was trying to cover up his fault by blaming the whole theft on other bank officials, Two deputy officials have already been ousted and that he was trying to sack the others too. He further added that Mr. Atiur Rahman made no real contribution to Bangladesh. “He was a just a globe trotter, who moved all over the world, networking with important people and requesting them to invite him to deliver lectures,” Muhith told the ‘Prothom Alo’. “Now we are getting to know all this.”
However, following the statement pf the ever outspoken minister, there was a round of protest against his remarks. Many mebers of the cabinet expressed their annoyance over Muhith’s comments. A source close to the party president aid that the whole house had the same reaction to Mr. Muhith’s comments.
Meanwhile, the party people turned their back on the finance minister. Suranjit Sen Gupta, who resigned from the position of rail minister back in 2012, said that Muhith is not completely oblivious to the robbery.
The ruling party’s Advisory Council member said on Thursday there was no scope to take the matter ‘lightly’, as state money has been stolen.
“The incident has been frustrating for people. I want to make it clear that neither the finance ministry nor the central bank is above suspicion,” the former minister said.
Suraanjit Sen Gupta also alleged that Mr. Muhith’s language of English and Bangla becomes incomprehensible and that he should speak responsibly.
On the other side if the battlefirld, the opposition party relentlessly put forward their demands. They wanted the immediate resignation of Finanace Minister and the Governor. Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “The finance minister and the Bangladesh Bank governor are responsible for destroying the country’s economy.”
Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir demanded explanation too. “The governor went to India without giving any explanation. The nation demands a proper explanation from him,” he said.
Finally when the rush was about to cool down, Economist Abul Barkat termed AMA Muhith as an “opportunist”. The rage came at an event after mr. Muhith denied the application of Mr. Barrkat’s extension as the chairman of Janata Bank.
“Muhith sometimes says money is no problem, then he says he can’t go for a big budget,” said Barkat.
“He wants privatisation. But liberalisation does not mean all-out privatisation,” said Barkat, adding: “If he has the guts, let him privatise primary healthcare and primary education.”
Apart from all the mixed reactions and comments of the inter-political blame game, the loss incurred to the economy is beyond acceptance or recovery. The huge theft has been circling the Philippine media too as a certain amount of the stolen has landed there.
This big threat posed by the hackers have shaken the roots of Philippines and Sri Lanka along with Bangladesh.

Writer is a journalist and poet